The ultimate girl crushes
This week we’ve gone all giddy over our girlish pasts. Re-embracing your youth is an essential part of the preparation for fashion week, otherwise you’ll be threatened by all the 16 year old ‘slashies’ that are hopping, skipping and jumping through internship hoops. A few weeks ago, we went through the motions of rediscovering our lost loves from the ’90s, and now it’s time to think about the women who defined us then, and now. A girl crush doesn’t necessarily mean a romantic urge, it more often conveys a sort of idolisation – a wish that you could be, or be near, this figure of greatness, whose sense of style, and sense of self, inspires you. Here are our top 10.
10. JULIANNE MOORE
Any redheads who got teased in school could have turned towards this fierce other-worldly beauty for inspiration. She has aged gracefully, and proudly shows off her fire-hued hair with a bold, but carefree, fashion sense. Her integrity when it comes to films is also admirable. She rose to international fame after two hits, as Amber Waves in Boogie Nights, and the imposing Maude in The Big Lebowski. Both these off-beat films had incredible success, and propelled her love of unusual scripts. Aside from porn and farcical kidnap, other topics covered have been urban legends, Magnolia, race and sexuality, Far From Heaven, same-sex marriage, The Kids Are Alright, and depression, The Hours. Her love of high fashion was noted when she starred opposite Colin Firth in Tom Ford’s A Single Man. Intellectual intensity and incredible image.
9. DREW BARRYMORE
Drew Barrymore was one of those people you loved from the get-go. She was adorable as Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and then quickly entered a pretty badass rebellious era. Sitting in Studio 54 smoking cigarettes, drinking, and taking drugs by aged 14 would be, to most people, a terrible sign. Everyone shook their heads, and after a harrowing suicide attempt, resigned themselves to her self destructive ways. However, Barrymore provided inspiration to everyone by becoming sober, entering rehab, and coming out the other side. Support from her godfather Steven Spielberg and singer David Crosby was invaluable, and soon she had founded Flower Films, her own production company that would go on to create hits like the Charlie’s Angels revamp, and cult classic Donnie Darko. It’s amazing to see someone go from being a troubled teen to a peaceful earth mother, and her marriage to Will Kopelman, complete with pregnant belly and Chanel dress, really was the icing on the cake.
8. GOLDIE HAWN
Anyone who can give birth to someone as angelic as Kate Hudson is going to be pretty special, but it’s the energy and good humour behind Goldie Hawn’s impressive career that has us respecting her. She was a model, a dancer, an Academy Award winning actress, a singer and basically a ’70s icon. The main reason you’d want to be her? She has been able to maintain the perfect balance of being famous, creative, beautiful and a good mother without any of them taking over her life, and that is something every woman could wish for.
7. GWYNETH PALTROW
Paltrow made a name for herself in Hollywood by being funny and sharp as a pin. After starring in box office hits like Emma, Sliding Doors and Shakespeare in Love she became renowned for her abilities as a romantic leading lady. The point where the jealousy meter starts to go off the scale is when you turn to romantic endeavours. After a six month engagement to lookalike Brad Pitt (just imagine the children), she dated Ben Affleck for three years. Obviously the strong jawlines weren’t working out for her, so she attended a Coldplay concert and hooked up with frontman Chris Martin. They now live in London, where she writes cookery books, looks after her two children, whilst soaking up the sounds of her other half’s musical endeavors. Sigh.
6. SOFIA COPPOLA
Imagine if your Dad wrote and directed The Godfather. What would you do with your life? It’s a hard act to follow. You’re lost right? Unless you’re Sofia Coppola, and have such a strong identity that you feel confident enough to pursue the same career. Coppola has made four films: The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, and Somewhere. All of these were critically acclaimed, beautiful motion pictures filled with dreamy cinematography, amazing casts, timeless soundtracks and moving storylines. This is a man’s world, but it would be nothing without a woman, or a girl. Her collaborations with Louis Vuitton ain’t bad either…
5. NIGELLA LAWSON
Any woman who can energise you into wanting to experiment in the kitchen, while oozing sexual confidence with her curvaceous body is a figure of inspiration. Something about Lawson’s unfettered passion and enthusiasm when it comes to delicious foods, and hosting parties, and having unashamed sweet tooth, make her instantly likeable. Her deliciously husky voice, hourglass shape, and hearty laugh just add to that. She’s the perfect mix of mumsy and mysterious – something we’d all love to be able to achieve.
4. MICHELLE PFEIFFER
This is one for those who want to know how to age well. Pfeiffer was an incredible sex symbol, in Scarface, Dangerous Liaisons and as Catwoman in Batman Returns. Her perfect pixie face, insanely amazing body and famous blonde curls earned her that accolade, but as she’s got older, we haven’t seen the slightest change. Her attitude to life is wholesome and hearty, maybe acquired after years of smoking, drinking, and a dangerous run-in with a cult. However, it paid off, and now she hails her vegan, athletic and active lifestyle as being key to her youthful appearance and demeanour.
3. VICTORIA BECKHAM
Beckham went from being Posh Spice, an embarrassing but simultaneously amazing member of The Spice Girls, famous for her bob and collection of LBDs, to a world-famous fashion designer. This transition happened slowly, and in between were some pivotal moments: her marriage to hottest footballer alive, David Beckham, the birth of her four children, countless interviews, affair scandals, and an ill-advised solo career. Despite her painstakingly thin appearance, and image based on the skinniest of jeans, the highest of heels and the largest of sunglasses – Beckham has become an icon. Why? Because as soon as you hear her speak you are reminded that, whatever her moody pictures might suggest, underneath she is an immensely humble, hilarious and likeable woman.
2. BEYONCE KNOWLES
Beyonce is a beacon of originality in a banal world. Whatever she does, it’s always unique and, in a word, brilliant. She shone as the star in R&B trio Destiny’s Child, and her solo career pushed the boundaries of modern music. She was always wearing something different, mainly because her mother was the creative head of all of her impressive wardrobe pieces. Obviously she had to marry her male equivalent, Jay-Z, a master of the music industry, and now they, and their overly cute daughter Blue Ivy, travel the world trying on designer clothes, writing incredibly catchy music, and generally enjoying every second of life. Jealous doesn’t even cover it.
1. GWEN STEFANI
This woman made punk pretty, she brought ready-to-wear into rock and added attitude into atelier. Merging fashion and and the more ferocious kinds of music hand previously been a rare occurrence, but Stefani made it her mission to make ska just a little more chic. She made most of her own clothes during her no doubt era, and popularised trends like bright red lips, an exposed midriff and peroxide blonde hair. Stefani’s constant reinvention of her image kind of makes us feel like we can do anything.
P.S. CARRIE BRADSHAW. THE WOMAN WHO MADE US WANT A WALK-IN WARDROBE.
No words needed. Instead we’ll let the clothes and the oft visited sartorial memories, speak for themselves.